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December 7, 2019

suncommunitynews.com

• EDITION •

Larock gets maximum sentence

Crown Point under tax cap, North Hudson isn’t

Defendant had admitted to killing William Brown By Tim Rowland STAFF WRITER

ELIZABETHTOWN | A Ticonderoga man was sentenced the maximum 25 years to life last week for the murder of Michael E. Larock. William “Liam” Photo provided Brown, retired U.S. Army veteran who was shot at a private residence a year ago and dumped in the La Chute River in Bicentennial Park. Michael E. Larock, 39, pleaded guilty on Sept. 12, to second-degree murder. Two other men, including Larock’s father, also pleaded to charges related to helping cover up the crime. At his sentencing, at which family members spoke of their loss, Larock exchanged words with Essex County Judge Richard Meyer, who threatened him with contempt. Meyer recommended that Larock never be released from prison. In a statement, District Attorney Kristy Sprague said, “I hope (the sentence) gives closure to the Brown family and the community of Ticonderoga. When something tragic happens in a small community, the impact of the loss, anger, sadness and grief is widespread.” Sprague said Larock will serve “a very long time, possibly the rest of his life.” Brown, 37, and Larock were friends, but an altercation broke out at a gathering that included alcohol and guns. Police said Larock fired at Brown, then enlisted the help of his father Donald and a friend, Joshua Smith, to dispose of the body. See LAROCK » pg. 9

Rates in both small towns reflect property values going in different directions Lots of forests and few people have pressured North Hudson’s budget.

By Tim Rowland

Photo by Tim Rowland

Including all districts, the 2020 budget for Crown Point is $2.1 million. It anticipates $792,000 in revenues and uses $132,000 from its fund balances, leaving $1.26 million to be raised by taxes. Assessments in Crown Point are up by $10 million, allowing the town’s general fund tax rate to go down a tick, from $2.34 to $2.31. Including highway, fire and water funds, the tax rate per thousand dollars of assessed value is basically unchanged at $8.86 per $1,000.

STAFF WRITER

CROWN POINT | The Crown Point budget will come in under the tax cap and includes a tax rate for 2020 that is basically equal to 2019. The budget was adopted on Nov. 18. Supervisor Charles Harrington said next year’s budget remains substantially unchanged from this year’s in terms of spending outlays. Harrington credited town employees, who get a 2% raise in the spending plan, with helping to keep costs in line. Taxpayers inside the water districts may scarcely notice an increase in the bill, which on a home assessed at $100,000 will be up by 56 cents, for a total tax bill of $886. Those outside the water districts will pay $744 per $100,000, $4 more than this year.

NORTH HUDSON RATES UP 19%

The Town of North Hudson was expected to break the tax cap in its 2020 budget due to a drop in taxable property values. Assessed value projections for 2020 are down by more than $2 million, from $142 million to $140 million, according to budget documents. North Hudson Supervisor Stephanie DeZalia said the decrease was perpetuated by a revaluation of assessed property,

JINGLE RAILS CP Holiday Train ushers in season

and more lands being enrolled in the state 480a program, which places forests under state management in exchange for lower taxes. With a population of just 240, or just 1.3 people for every square mile, forestland tax breaks can have an inordinate effect of the budget. DeZalia said taxable property values had been down by a similar amount the year before. According to a preliminary budget, the total tax rate across all funds will go up from $5.60 per thousand in 2019 to $6.69 in 2020. The total budget, including highway and fi re funds, for 2020 will be $1.5 million. Revenues are projected at $304,000, and the town will use $325,000 of its fund balance leaving $851,000 to be raised by taxes. DeZalia said she hopes the budget can be back under the cap next year as the town employs cost-saving measures, such as cutting down on road salt, which is considered to be a problem for the environment. ■

NYS awards $2.1 million in grants to Adk projects Goal to boost tourism, local culture, economies; Warren, Essex, Hamilton counties expected to benefit By Thom Randall CORRESPONDENT

ESSEX COUNTY | Municipalities, civic groups, organizations and private entities in the Adirondacks were recently awarded smartgrowth grants totaling more than $2.1 million in an effort to boost local municipalities’ local economies, their recreational and cultural amenities and area tourism — while protecting the environment. The projects are located primarily in Warren, Essex and Hamilton counties.

A damp audience enjoys the entertainment courtesy of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, which benefits local food pantries.

Photo by Tim Rowland

By Tim Rowland STAFF WRITER

PORT HENRY | Christmas may come without ribbons and it may come without tags, but last Wednesday it definitely came with rain. No matter. Hundreds of soggy but happy people turned out to celebrate what has become the official beginning of the Christmas season in Port Henry — the arrival of the

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train. The colorfully decorated locomotive and 14 rail cars came bearing gifts, specifically festive entertainment, an appearance by the jolly old elf and a $4,000 check for the local food bank. Along with accentuating the festivity of the season, the event stands as a reminder that many people are in need, and to that end, audience members came with gift s of their own in the form of armloads of groceries for those who have not been

blessed with as much. The community also celebrated the lighting of the town Christmas tree, a project of the Moriah Chamber of Commerce. For more than 20 years the CP Holiday Train has kicked off the season, and this year it departed from Saratoga Springs with celebratory stops at Fort Edward, Port Henry, Plattsburgh and Rouses Point.

ESSEX COUNTY CULTURAL AND TOURISM INITIATIVES

In Essex County, various projects in the towns of Ticonderoga and Westport, as well as in the High Peaks region and in the village of Saranac Lake, are to be funded with hundreds of thousands of dollars. A grant of $99,624 was awarded to Essex County Cooperative Extension to assist Adirondack Harvest in their website development, media promotion and outreach events. Based in Lewis, Adirondack Harvest strives to support local sustainable farming and agriculture by developing markets for their products. The town of Ticonderoga is to receive $100,000 to draft plans for reconstruction of an 18th century sawmill, to feature a waterwheel and a water flume from the LaChute River to the sawmill. The grant is also to bankroll plans for the venue’s site work, parking lot and utility service. See NYS GRANTS » pg. 7

See TRAIN » pg. 9

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